Portland celebrates the Raiders

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 12:32 AMDec 4, 2012 at 12:54 AM

Community honors state-championship team

By ANDREW ROBERTSandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

With a week to reflect on what they accomplished, the members and coaches of the 2012 Division 5 State Champion Portland football team filed into the high school gym one-by-one Monday to be recognized in a community assembly.

"I was coming back from Ionia after grocery shopping last week and I had to pull the car over," Raider coach John Novara said.

"You're working and you're so busy and you are focused on getting that next victory and getting the kids prepared, it takes a lot of time and a lot of hours, so I was still in that work mode. Then when it was all over we were happy and satisfied, but it never really hit me until I was by myself driving down the road and it was hard to believe.

"It's a great feeling. These kids deserve it. They worked hard."The week has also given the players time to reflect and enjoy the glory of winning a state championship.

"It's been pretty exciting," senior Mark Beard said. "In school everybody comes up to congratulate you and people stop you at the gas station. It's exciting."

Along with celebrating the title, Novara and captains Justin Goodman, Logan Seal, Adam Goodman and Dylan Carroll were presented with a proclamation from Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville, in honor of the team's state championship. Then the crowd in attendance was treated to a highlight video documenting the Raiders' playoff run. As each big play and touchdown were shown, there was an eruption of cheers as the community relived each play.

Junior receiver Auston Brandt said he got a chance to watch his touchdown catch from quarterback Tanner Allison the state finals game that totaled 94-yards, that proved to be the game-winning score.

"First I need to talk about the drop (before the touchdown) because that was pretty bad," he said with a smile, "But watching me get that chance at redemption was pretty cool. When the pass came in I thought it was just a normal throw, but watching it back on video it was amazing how (Allison) was able to get the pass off.

"(Winning the title) hasn't really sunk in, but after this assembly, it is starting to. The community has rallied around us since the beginning of the season, and now (the support) is just incredible."

At the end of the assembly Novara walked to the opposite side of the gym and revealed the state championship banner, the first on the gymnasium wall.

Novara said he has been overwhelmed with the support shown by not only current members of the Portland community, but past players as well.

"I have had a lot of phone calls and voice mails from members of the community and former players congratulating me," he said. "I think this community works hard. They have always worked hard and they are just happy to see a victory here at the end."